Ball return terminal units



April 16, 1957 M. F. TURNER 2,788,972

BALL RETURN TERMINAL UNITS Filed June 20, 1955 [NE 'E.\' TOR. MART/N F TURNER Ja @W' BALL RETURN TERMINAL UNITS Martin F. Turner, Kent, Wash.

Application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,433

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-47) This invention relates to ball return terminal units as used in bowling alleys, and it has reference more particularly to the particular design of the terminal unit for the storage or holding of a substantial number of balls as returned from the pin end of the alley, into parallel ways both of which are in the same horizontal plane.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a substantially shortened terminal unit for a designated number of balls, the unit being designed to receive the balls from a return way and to cause them, as received, to roll, under influence of gravity, into one or the other of the two parallel ways of the storage unit for easy selection by the players when needed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel terminal unit for a ball return that is so substantially shortened, by reason of the coextensive and parallel arrangement of the storage ways therein, that it will not divide or extend into the approach area to such an extent that it would result in causing the bowlers to have a feeling of restriction when they make the arm swing to deliver a ball down the alley.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a terminal unit rack having coextensive, parallel ways therein, parallel with the alley, at the same horizontal level, and designed to receive balls at the same end and direct from the ball return way, as distinguished from being continuous and in a reverse turn.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the specific details of construction of the ball storage unit; in the combination of its parts, and in its mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these above mentioned and other objects of the present invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 -is a perspective view of a ball return terminal unit embodying the improvements of the present invention therein, and showing it filled with balls.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan, or top view of the terminal unit as seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of one of the ball rack rails as equipped with a ball engaging wear strip along one edge thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present terminal unit, shown in its entirety in Fig. 1, is designed to receive the bowling balls, designated by reference numeral 16, from what might be a floor level return way, or an under floor return way such as that designated at 11 in Fig. 2.

The return way as herein shown, curves gradually upward as it approaches the unit to join with and discharge the returned balls into the receiving end of the terminal unit.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, it is to be nited States Patent 0 ice 2'788972 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 observed that the present terminal unit, or ball storage rack, comprises two parallel ball storage ways designated by numerals 12 and 12; these being coextensive anddefined between parallel, horizontal rails 13 and 13 and an intermediate rail 14. It is further shown in Fig. 2, that the storage rack as comprised by the rails 1313 and 14, is supported at its rearward end by a pedestal or legs designatedby numeral 15; these legs being secured at their lower ends on a base plate 16. The legs 15 and rails also mount at that end of the unit, abutment blocks 17-17 by which balls delivered along the rack ways 12-12 are stopped. At its forward end, that being the end remote from the abutment blocks, the dividing rail 14 is supported by a cross-bar 20 which is fixed at its ends to the undersides of the rails 1313.

The two rails 13-13 converge symmetrically toward each other, starting at points in transverse alignment and substantially even with the inner end of rail 14, to a spacing corresponding to the width of either of the ways 12, or suitable for the travel or support of balls therebetween, as shown in Fig. 1. Then they continue in parallel relationship to provide a guideway, designated at 21 in Fig. 3, adapted to hold four balls. The guideway 21 continues from the discharge end of the return way 11 and at its discharge end it divides into the two diverging ways 2222 that lead, respectively, into the receiving ends of the parallel ways 12-12. The two ball ways 12-12 are here shown to be of such length as to contain four balls each, however, they might be longer or shorter if desired. At the juncture of the upper end of guideway 11 with the receiving end of guideway 21, the guide rails join end to end in a slight upward arch, as designated at 24 in Fig. 2, which prevents the balls after once being received into the way 21, from rolling back.

It is herein shown that the return way 11 leads from below floor level upwardly and rearwardly into a housing 25 which may be of an ornamental character, and which, in some instances, may contain ball elevating means. The housing 25 also serves as means of support for the forward ends of the two rails 13-13.

As shown in Fig. 5, the rails which define the hall ways have hardened wear strips, as at 26 fixed thereto along their inner edges for support and easy rolling of the balls therealong; these strips being comparable to such strips now in use for a like purpose.

With the storage rack terminal unit so constructed, balls returning from the pin end of the alley along the guideway 11 will be delivered into guideway 21 and will roll therealong to the juncture of the diverging ways 22 and 22, and will there be caused to enter one or the other of the diverging ways by reason of engaging the rather elongated and forwardly tapered end portion 14x of the rail 14. It is shown in Fig. 3 that the rail 14 has the opposite sides of its tapered end beveled in a manner to cooperate with the direction of the corresponding inclined or diverging portions of the rails lit-13. When a ball strikes this tapered and beveled end of the rail 14, it is deflected to one side or the other. If one of the ways 12 is filled, then the next ball delivered along the way 21 will strike and be deflected by the end ball of the filled way to the opposite way. However, when the opposite way becomes filled, then the balls merely fill up the way 21, as noted in Fig. 1.

With the terminal unit so designed the required length for storage of a designated number of balls is materially reduced, and both storage ways are kept in the same horizontal plane. This is a material advantage over having one storage way below the other, and it is also an advantage over storage racks wherein two parallel ways are joined as a continuous way, such as when formed on a U-tum. A further advantage resides in the fact that it is most practical and desirable to have the unit extending parallel with the direction'of the alleys and of this a shortened length so that it will not operate to divide the return track; a ball storage rack-supported substantially in a horizontal position at the discharge end of said ball return track to receive balls directly, therefrom; said rack having a receiving track joined to and aligned with said 7 return track as a continuation thereof, and having two storage tracks arranged in' parallel relationship, 7 symmetrically located at opposite sides of the extended central line of said receiving track, and each of said storage tracks having an outside rail that is inclined toward and merged into the corresponding siderailof the receiving track; and there being a track rail between the said storage tracks and common to both of them and spacing the tracks a distance suificient for travel of balls in either Without interference with balls in the other; said rail terminating at its forward end in an elongated portion that is beveled along opposite sides to elfect the lateral defiection of balls engaging with the said end portion to one side or the other, into the corresponding storage track; said storage tracks being of such length in reference to the diameter of balls used therein that when one becomes entirely filled with balls, the next returned ball from said receiving track will strike the near ball in the filled track and will be deflected thereby intothe other 7 track.

7 2. A combination as in claim '1 wherein the storage mea re tracks are co-eXtensive and each has a stop block at its outer end, and wherein the receiving track of the storage unit joins with the return track in an upwardly arched portion that prevents back running of stored balls. 7

3. In combination with a bowling ball return'track; a ball return terminal unit comprising a rack supported substantially in a horizontal position at the discharge end of said ball return track to receive balls therefrom; said rack having a receiving track aligned with said bowling ball return track as a continuation thereof, and having two stortracks in parallel relationship, symmetrically spaced from and at opposite sides of the extended central line of said receiving track a distance sufiicient for travel of balls in either without interference with balls on the other; said storage tracks each being connected at their receiving ends with the discharge end of said receiving track to receive balls therefrom, and separated by a rail that terminates'at the receiving ends of said storage tracks in oppositely beveled faces for lateral deflection of balls, as'they engage therewith upon leaving the receiving track, into one or the other of said storage tracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,611 Wiggins Feb. 11, 1896 858,776 Amlie July, 2, 1907 1,446,954 Wendt Feb. 27, 1923 2,175,750 Edwards Oct. 10, 1939 2,482,250 Discher Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,441 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1930 

